$2,500 Patti Grace Smith Aerospace Fellowship

Organization: Patti Grace Smith Fellowship

Type: Fellowship

Location: United States

Deadline: October 4, 2026

Funding: Fully Funded

The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship, a volunteer-run US nonprofit, gives Black undergraduates their first paid job in aerospace. Fellows earn a competitively sourced summer internship of about 12 weeks at a US aerospace company or institution, paid a living wage, and receive a cash grant of $2,500 or more, two mentors, an annual Summit and a lifelong alumni community. The Class of 2027 application is open now and closes on October 4, 2026. **What you get:** - A paid summer internship of about 12 weeks at one of the nation's leading aerospace companies, startups or institutions, matched to your interests - A living wage throughout the internship - A cash grant of $2,500 or more, usable for tuition, school fees, laptops, software, textbooks or professional attire - Two mentors: an industry leader and a rising near-peer professional - An annual Summit with your classmates and current industry leaders - A tight-knit alumni community that continues after the internship **What you'll do:** - Submit a one-page resume, a transcript (unofficial accepted) and two letters of recommendation through the SurveyMonkey Apply portal - Write a 500 to 750 word essay on how the global aerospace industry can better serve underrepresented communities - Create a multimedia essay in any format (video, song, comic, animation, fiction) answering: what else do we need to know about you? - Answer one further prompt of your choice as a written or multimedia essay - If selected as a semi-finalist, interview with aerospace professionals, then be matched to host companies for their own selection process - Work about 12 weeks at your host company in summer 2027 and attend the annual Summit **Key dates:** - Applications opened August 18, 2026 - Applications close October 4, 2026 (website: 11:59:59 pm Eastern; portal: 3:00 am EDT, see notes) - Letters of recommendation due October 4, 2026, with a 48-hour grace period per the portal - Applicants are typically notified of selection in December - Internship runs about 12 weeks in summer 2027 **More information:** - Around 30 to 35 Fellows are accepted each year from hundreds of applicants - Every application is read in full by two human reviewers; about 125 applicants are interviewed and about 75 go forward to host companies - Host companies run their own selection process and no spots are held; candidates must meet every threshold other interns meet - Free alumni-written how-to guides and an applicant Discord are linked from the apply page - Sibling programme of the Brooke Owens Fellowship; the FAQ lists other aerospace fellowships for those not eligible

Patti Grace Smith FellowshipFellowship

$2,500 Patti Grace Smith Aerospace Fellowship

This one has closed

Archived

Opportunity type

Fellowship

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

United States

Deadline

Archived

About this opportunity

What you get:

A paid summer internship of about 12 weeks at one of the nation's leading aerospace companies, startups or institutions, matched to your interests
A living wage throughout the internship
A cash grant of $2,500 or more, usable for tuition, school fees, laptops, software, textbooks or professional attire
Two mentors: an industry leader and a rising near-peer professional
An annual Summit with your classmates and current industry leaders
A tight-knit alumni community that continues after the internship

What you'll do:

Submit a one-page resume, a transcript (unofficial accepted) and two letters of recommendation through the SurveyMonkey Apply portal
Write a 500 to 750 word essay on how the global aerospace industry can better serve underrepresented communities
Create a multimedia essay in any format (video, song, comic, animation, fiction) answering: what else do we need to know about you?
Answer one further prompt of your choice as a written or multimedia essay
If selected as a semi-finalist, interview with aerospace professionals, then be matched to host companies for their own selection process
Work about 12 weeks at your host company in summer 2027 and attend the annual Summit

Key dates:

Applications opened August 18, 2026
Applications close October 4, 2026 (website: 11:59:59 pm Eastern; portal: 3:00 am EDT, see notes)
Letters of recommendation due October 4, 2026, with a 48-hour grace period per the portal
Applicants are typically notified of selection in December
Internship runs about 12 weeks in summer 2027

More information:

Around 30 to 35 Fellows are accepted each year from hundreds of applicants
Every application is read in full by two human reviewers; about 125 applicants are interviewed and about 75 go forward to host companies
Host companies run their own selection process and no spots are held; candidates must meet every threshold other interns meet
Free alumni-written how-to guides and an applicant Discord are linked from the apply page
Sibling programme of the Brooke Owens Fellowship; the FAQ lists other aerospace fellowships for those not eligible

Who can apply

Current student in a Bachelors degree programme or in any year of an Associates degree programme
US citizen, US permanent resident, US national, or a refugee (8 U.S.C. 1157) or asylee (8 U.S.C. 1158) legally permitted to work in the United States
Not yet part of the aerospace workforce; typically seeking a first paid aerospace internship (exceptions such as military service must be explained in an essay)
Any major, with skills and interests relevant to some part of the aerospace industry
Strong moral character and dedication to the programme's mission
One-page resume, transcript (unofficial accepted), two letters of recommendation, a written essay, a multimedia essay and one further essay

AI Verification

✓ AI Verified

Our AI read the official sources and cross-checked the key facts. Here is what held up, and what it could not confirm.

This opportunity is run by an established organization, and we confirmed its key details against the official source. As always, never share sensitive personal or financial information until you are sure a request is genuine.

LOT Verification ScoreStrong

Cross-checked 9 of 10 key facts

Confirmed Our best read Not stated

Good to know

+A paid summer internship of about 12 weeks at a leading US aerospace company, paid a living wage.
+A cash grant of $2,500 or more for tuition, a laptop, textbooks or work clothes, plus two mentors and an annual Summit.
+Any major and any year of a bachelor's or associate degree, with no fee at any stage.
+Every application is read by two people, and alumni publish free guides to help you apply.

Worth checking yourself

!Finish by the end of Saturday 3 October 2026. The website says the 4th at 11:59 pm Eastern, but the application portal closes at 3:00 am Eastern on the 4th.
!US citizens, permanent residents, nationals, refugees or asylees only. This is a legal export-control rule.
!Reaching the final round does not guarantee a place: host companies make their own choice.
!A heavy application: a written essay, a multimedia essay, one more essay and two recommendation letters. Travel and housing for the internship are not addressed.

Sources checked

PGpgsfellowship.orgApplyPGpgsfellowship.orgApplyPGpgsfellowship.orgApplyPGpgsfellowship.orgApplyPGpgsfellowship.orgApplyPGpgsfellowship.orgApplyAPapplytopgsf.smapply.usOfficial

LOT finds and checks opportunities from public sources. Always confirm details on the organiser’s own page before applying.